Steam-clutch



(N0 Mqdel.)

T. BILL.-

STEAM OLUTGH.

No. 244,717. Patentd July 19,1881.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS DILL, or BAY CITY, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES OLEMENTS, or ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

STEAM-CLUTC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,717, dated July 19, 1881. Application filed January 13, 1881. (No model To all whom it may concern: 1 7

Be it known that I, THoMAs DI-LL, of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Clutches, 'of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved steam-clutch. Fig.2 is a vertical section on line on w in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the clutch.

This invention relates to that class of cl ntches which are connected With one end of the piston-rod ofa steam-cylinder, whereby the clutch is operated by the movements of the piston.

Myinvention consists in a certain construction and combination of parts, which will be fully hereinafter described in detail, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

N is a shaft, and Z is awinding-drum secured thereto.

Wis a wheel or pulley, turned by power from any suitable source, and revolves freely on shaft N. In the side of wheel W are slots 27 to receive the teeth R of a clutch.

S is a fast collar on shaft N having slots cut through it parallel with shaft N, through which slots slide the teeth R of a clutch.

R are the teeth of a clutch.

O is a flanged collar sliding and turning freely on shaft N, and-having slots in its flange.

Teeth B have narrow necks, which pass through slots Q, and at each end of the neck is a shoulder wider than slot Q, so that collar 0, when moved, will also move teeth R; but there will be some lost motion between the collar O and the teeth R.

H is a bearing in which shaft N runs.

Shaft N is hollow a portion of its length, and in it is a metal rod, M, turning freely in and concentric with shaft N. Collar 0 has a slot cut in it, and in shaft N is cut a slot longer than the slot in collar 0.

Through these slots and through rod M passes a key, P,which locks collar 0 and rod M together, so that when rod M is reciprocated it will reciprocate collar 0. It is better to make the slot in collar 0 wider than the thickness of key P, to avoid bending key P.

A is a steam-cylinder, having piston B and F is a rock-shaft, having a handle, G, and

arm E, connected to valve D, by means of which val've D, which is an ordinary slide-valve, can be set in any desired position.

When it is desired to throw the clutch into gear, valve D is thrown by the engineer into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby admitting steam into the cylinder A at the left of piston B and forcing the piston toward the right of the drawings. Piston-rod G forces rodM to the right, which, by means of key P and sliding flanged collar 0, forces teeth B through the slots in collar S and into slots or recesses o in wheel W, thus locking collar S and wheel W firmly together. 7 Swiveljoint L allows rod M and collar 0 to turn freely with shaft N without bringing any torsional strain on piston-rod 0, while the steam-pressure, acting as above described, holds teeth R firmlyin' slots or recesses 11.-

A By reversing valve D the piston is forced to the left, withdrawing teeth R from slots or recesses o in wheel W, and the movement of the piston is checked by rod M coming in contact with rubber cushion I.

The lost motion between flanged sliding collar O and teeth R allows piston B to get under motion before being called upon to operate the clutch.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the steam-cylinder A, piston B, piston-rod 0, rod M, key P, sliding flanged collar 0, teeth R, fast collar S, shaft N, and wheel W, having slots or recesses c, all constructed, arranged, and operating substan tially as herein described and shown.

. THOMAS DILL.

Witnesses:

H. M. GILLETT, E. A. OooLEY. 

